Darning-last.



No. 694,562. Patented Mar. 4, I902.

A. E. MACDONALD.

DABNING LA (ApplicMiion'filgad May 22, 1.

(No Model.)

NITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

ALBERT MACDONALD, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

DARNlNG-LAST.

SPECIF N forming part of Letters Patent No. 694,562, dated March 4, 902.

Application filed May 22, 1901.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT EDWARD Mao- DONALD, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Expanders for 'Darning Purposes; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to a device for expanding and retaining in shape stockings and like articles which are to be darned or mended.

It consists of a spheriod having a handle projecting from one side, a groove or channel made around its periphery, and an elastic ring adapted to clamp the material smoothly over the outer end of the spheroid by drawing it into the groove. The end of the spheroid may be provided with channels crossing each other similarly to the warp and woof of the material, and forming guides for the needle, so that the appearance of the mended place would be symmetrical with the surrounding goods.

My invention also comprises details of construction which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device. Fig. 2 shows the method of application. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the axis. Fig. at is a horizontal view of the elastic ring.

The object of my invention is to provide a shape for stockings and like articles which are to be mended and a means for drawing the goods tight over the shape or form and holding them without the necessity of con-' stantly pulling upon them with the hands.

A is a spheroid, which is preferably made oblate or flattened at the outer end, so that a flatter surface is provided over which the goods are to be stretched for mending purposes. This end representing the pole of the spheroid, a groove or channel 2 is made around what would be the equatorial portion, and an elastic ring 3 is fitted to compress the goods into this groove by being first expanded and slipped over the outside of the goods after the spheroid. has been introduced, and the ring being then made to contract into the groove will draw the goods tight over the flattened outer end of the spheroid and will hold them Serial No. 61 ,345. (No model.)

firmly in this condition without the necessity of constantly pulling upon them, as is the case where a simple ball or similar device is employed for the purpose.

In order to guide the needle so that the crossing threads of the darn or mend will be symmetrical, I form shallow grooves or channels 4 5, at right angles with each other, forming a network similar to the warp and woof of woven goods, and these channels directing the needle when it is introduced enable the operator to make a symmetrical mend.

The ring, which serves as a clamp, may be made in any desired manner. I have found that a very simple and effective method is to make it of stiff piano or other elastic steel wire bent into a circle, which is normally of somewhat smaller diameter than the spheroid or the groove around it, and to upturn the ends or form them into loops, as at 6. These serve as means for taking hold of the ring, and as the two ends overlap and pass each other to some distance by pressing upon these two loops the spring can be opened and enlarged sufficiently to be passed over the goods after the spheroid has been introduced into the interior or the goods stretched over it. When the ring is'brought opposite the groove or channel, by releasing its ends its elasticity will claspthe goods into the channel and hold them with sufficient firmness while the repair is being completed. When the ring is to be removed to release the goods, it is only necessary to take hold of these projecting ends or loops and press them toward each other. As the ends of the wire expand past each other this compression increases the size of the ring until it can be removed and the goods released. The handle which projects from the opposite end of the spheroid is made with a rounded end adapted to fit into the fingers of gloves, and thus provide an expander, over which the glove-fingers may be slipped and held While being repaired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

' 1. Adevice forstretchingand holdinggoods for repairs, consisting of a spheroidal form having a handle projecting from one side, said form having an equatorial groove made around it, and an elastic ring adapted to clamp thegoods into said groove and stretch them over the outer end and having its ends overlapping and guided one on the other and provided with finger-pieces, said form having transverse grooves formed in its outer surface.

2. In a device of the character described, a spheroidal form having an equatorial groove, an elastic ring fitting said groove and adapted to clamp the goods, said form having crossed grooves made directly in one of its ends, and lo a handle extension of reduced diameter extending from the opposite end.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ALBERT E. MACDONALD. Witnesses:

S. H. NOURSE, J ESSIE O. BRODIE. 

